It’s hard to believe that this is actually a real couple and not models. But yes, you heard me correct: this beauty before us is as real as can be and Sally Pinera captured it all. With talent like hers behind the lens and a scenery as stunning at the Sunstone Villa and Winery, well, it doesn’t get much better than this. See it every single pic in our Vault right this way – and you can thank us later.

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From Sally Pinera… Rachael and Amir decided to have their sweet engagement session at the incomparable Sunstone Villa and Winery. Surrounded by vineyards, oak trees, and the rolling hills of Santa Barbara, Rachael and Amir shared precious moments together as they enjoyed the scenic views of Sunstone. We can’t wait for their late summer destination wedding in Cancun to celebrate their love!

Photography: Sally Pinera | Floral Design: Poppy Design Co. | Gown: Alexandra Grecco | Makeup + Hair: Hikari Murakami | Venue: Sunstone Villa

Bring on the cable knit sweaters and hot cider, because this inspiration from Heather Waraksa has got us ready for fall. From its seasonal fare to fantastic frocks courtesy of Gabriella New York, this is one styled shoot that’s blooming with Gathering Events berries, Ceci New York invites, and of course a bit of romance. See every thoughtful detail from Bellafare in The Vault!

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From Bellafare…Inspired by the European Elegance that RiverOaks Charleston exudes, this creative collaboration was an exercise in understated beauty and restraint. The design encompassed organic materials and rustic yet refined elements that highlighted the lush Lowcountry landscape. The soft light served as an ethereal backdrop for the rich tones of gray and various textures used throughout the tablescape. Though the table design was a defining thread throughout the aesthetic, the romance between the couple set the tone for the intimate and food-focused event.

Photography: Heather Waraksa | Event Design + Styling: Bellafare | Floral Design: Gathering Floral + Event Design | Cake: DeClare Cakes | Invitations: Ceci New York | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Hair + Makeup: Wedding Hair By Charlotte | Calligraphy: Ink Meets Paper | Groom's Attire: Lanvin | Venue: RiverOaks Charleston | Additional Serving Pieces: The Commons | China, Flutes, Serving Pieces + Napkins: Open Door Shop | Food Styling: Feast Charleston | Groom's Shoes: Ralph Lauren | Models: Lucky Penny Blog | Rentals: Snyder Event Rentals | Table Runner + Ribbon: Silk and Willow | Wedding Dress + Hair Accessories: Gabriella New York Bridal Salon

Cereal is practically its own food group and thus crafting an entire party around our favorite breakfast treat makes complete and total sense. It’s genius really. Leslie Bruce decided the perfect way to celebrate a new school year and a great excuse to throw a little shindig was with this Lucky Charms infused party complete with cereal topped treats. See what’s on the menu with even more shot by Emma Feil here.

To celebrate the beginning of the school year, I decided to host a “Cereal Soiree” for some of Tallulah’s friend and their mamas. And since all of my favorite cereals practically double as candy, I concluded that a cereal- inspired dessert buffet was definitely in order. With the help of my friend and the most phenomenal baker ever, Lauren Lowstan of A Sweet Savory, I came up with a festive, candy-coated treat menu.

On the Menu:

Rice Krispy Treat Cereal Cake
Funfetti Dipped Belgian Waffles with Frosted Flakes
Lucky Charm Cannolis
Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch and Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pop Tarts

Because nothing is better than Lucky Charm marshmallows, I made sure to offer an apothecary jar overflowing with the sugary treats, as well as Funfetti Donut Cap’n Crunch (who knew that was a thing!?). These were dangerously easy for the little ones to get their hands on!

For décor, I wanted to play off the pastels of the Lucky Charms. I reworked a “Celebrate” banner that I picked up during one of my Paper Source hauls to say “Cereal!” Beautiful paper fans and confetti balloons are pretty much standard fare for any party, and these ones from Meri Meri don’t disappoint. While the balloons are one-time deal, the fans are really great paper stock, so they can definitely be stored and used again for our next soiree.

I wanted to add some fun, bright décor to the dessert bar for an unexpected pop, so I used these two great prints. The floral watercolor print is from the Oh Joy for Target collection, and the Bob Dylan quote is one of my all-time favorite Etsy finds. I don’t know about you, but when I’m considering a second (or third!) helping of desserts, I’m definitely want to be reminded of this: “Don’t Think Twice…It’s Alright.” 

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Another Sweet Treat Perfect for Parties

Photography: Emma Feil | Cake & Treats: A Sweet Savory | Cereal Tees: Junk Food Clothing | Decor: Meri Meri Toot Sweet | Decor: Target | Decor : Paper Source | Event Design and Hostess: Leslie Bruce

Just when I thought I’d seen it all, Bashful Captures sends along this styled shoot which totally redefines any and all preconceived notions of Brooklyn, because this borough? Well, it’s totally chic. A gallery complete with Violet and Verde blooms and undeniable beauty, we’ve got every bit of it waiting for you to fall in love with via The Vault!

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From Bashful Captures… When I first dreamt of this styled inspiration shoot, I wanted to create a unique, modern rustic look in Brooklyn, NY. I first started at Prospect Park, but as soon as we got there, it started pouring. Unfortunately, once the rain slowed down, there were puddles everywhere and we weren’t able to shoot outside the park. However, rain didn’t stop our shoot, but instead we took photos under the Peristyle which created this beautiful grecian look that went perfectly with this gorgeous BHLDN dress. Then once we got to Dumbo, BK, the sun started peeking out. This beautiful light peeking through the buildings created a very romantic feel for the shoot as well. Dumbo is one of the most popular areas that I often go for weddings or engagements sessions in NYC. I wanted to create a fun, but unique look that inspires brides to think out of the box.

Photography: Bashful Captures | Floral Design: Violet and Verde | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Invitations: Paula Lee Calligraphy | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Hair + Makeup: Ombre By E.J. Makeup Studio | Groom's Attire: H & M | Accessories: BHLDN

A little bit of gold, a little bit of pink, a whole lot of greenery and we’re always on board. Planned and designed alongside the wedding wizards at Charmed Events Group, the couple pulled off the prettiest winery wedding while honoring their Chinese and Korean cultures with traditional ceremonies and meaningful details. Watch how it all unfolded in the gallery from Vero Suh and film by Major Diamond Productions.

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From the Bride…. It all started when Jin surprised me with a proposal during our vacation in Maui on November 2014. He proposed on his birthday! He planned everything so well that I had no idea at all that it was going to happen. The proposal deserves a story own its own!

When it comes to wedding venue, we know that we wanted to have it in a winery. Jin loves wine and I have been collecting wine corks from all the wine that he drank for the past few years. Napa and Sonoma have so many beautiful wineries but location (distance) is very important to us as we have very busy work schedules. We decided to look for local wineries. We visited two wineries and fell in love with Clos LaChance Winery (the second winery we visited). When we walked into the winery and out to the ceremony area, we knew that this is it – gorgeous views! Our venue hunting journey has ended. Another thing that we wanted is to have an outdoor wedding for both the ceremony and reception and Clos LaChance was perfect for that. Finding a wedding date is a challenge. We wanted a Summer wedding and decided on Summer 2016, again due to our busy schedules and family overseas it will be impossible for us to have our wedding in Summer 2015. After a few dates were turned down by m y parents, we finally agreed on the first Saturday in July 2016. I know that a date is just a number, but it is important to me as I like even numbers (I know I am weird). When we agreed on the first Saturday in July 2016, I did not know yet at that time if it falls on an even or odd number. I checked the calendar after I got off the phone with my parents and to my relief it falls on the 2nd – yay! It also falls on the 4th of July weekend which will be perfect for our out-of-town guests. On top of it, it also happens to fall on our anniversary (6th year anniversary in 2016). This was all totally unplanned. I was thrilled!

I like pretty little things – I think all girls do. So when it comes to wedding design and decorations, I get very detail-oriented. I want to make sure I have every little things that I like and incorporate it well to the wedding. For example, a personalized wedding logo, wooden signs for table numbers, dessert table, escort card display, welcome sign, Instagram sign and many others. The theme that I was going for was garden party with a touch of romance and elegance. I love flowers and greeneries and that is important for me to have as well at the wedding. As for the color, since it is an outdoor summer wedding, I opted to go with blush and champagne. The wedding invitation is very important to me as that is the first thing that guests will see about the wedding (other than the Save the Date card) and it sets the tone for the wedding. I worked very closely with a vendor based in Indonesia on the color, design, and the little details in it. We sealed the invitations with a rich gold wax in our personalized logo. We could not be happier with how the invitations turned out. This vendor also designed our wedding favor (a notebook) and the wedding program in a shape of a fan (perfect for the hot summer weather in California). I realized that I could not do the wedding planning and design myself if I want everything to turn out perfectly.

After hiring a few vendors on my own, I decided to look for a wedding planner and designer. I have been following Charmed Events Group for a while on Instagram and I really love their design and style. I decided to hire them. Long story short, Frances, the creative director of Charmed Events Group really made magic happens for weddings. I was blown away by the stunning work of art that Frances and her team created for our wedding. Frances totally understands me and everything turned out just like how I envisioned it. The wedding decoration was so beautifully done, full of blush, lush, blooms and golds. Our sweeatheart table and that original escort card display that Frances designed were amazing! I have seen the sweetheart table photos taken by the talented Vero Suh being re-posted a few times on Instagram. I love it!

For a personal touch, we used my wine corks collection as the place card holders at the wedding. The personalized logo was also used on various things such as our wedding invitations, favor, photobooth, cocktail napkins and even on the wooden decoration trays. We also did something different for our first dance. We decided to do the first dance privately instead of in front of our guests. This is something that we decided at the last minute on the day itself. We took dance lessons and had a choreographed first dance to “show off” to our guests. However, the wedding day itself was so hectic and we thought that the first dance would be a good time for us to have some alone time (other than the first look). We did the private first dance after the traditional tea ceremony. I was also super nervous about dancing in front of people, so it was a win-win situation for me.

It is also important for us to remember our culture and respect our parents in a traditional way. Jin is Korean and I am Indonesian-Chinese. We did a Chinese tea ceremony (in Cheongsam) for my family and a Korean ceremony (in Hanbok) for Jin’s family before the actual wedding ceremony. We also did parents’ appreciation towards the end of the wedding ceremony to honor our parents. Unfortunately, Jin’s mother could not be there with us, but it was very important to us to involve her in the wedding. We had a bouquet of flower with a note “In honor of Mama Yoo” especially for Jin’s mother. We also bowed and paid our respect to her during the Korean Ceremony. This is a very touching moment for both Jin and I as we were in that exact same room just a few months ago with her for our food tasting. It was truly a day to remember. I have always heard people saying that their wedding day was the best day of their lives and I have always been so curious to know what that feeling is like. Now I know. 7/2/2016 was the best day of our lives! Special thanks to the incredible team of vendors who have made our wedding a dream come true.

Photography: Vero Suh Photography | Cinematography: Major Diamond Productions | Event Design and Planning: Charmed Events Group, LLC | Event Planning: Charmed Events Group, LLC | Floral Design: Love Life & Bloom | Cake: Jen's Cakes | Invitations: Good Moments | Ceremony Venue: Clos Lachance Vineyards | Reception Venue: Clos Lachance Vineyards | Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Hair & Makeup: Faces By Emily | DJ: Big Fun DJs | Favors: Good Moments | Groom's Attire: DKNY | Groomsmen's Attire: Formal Headquarters International | Bride's Dress: Bridal Gown Studio | Bridemaid's Dress: Jenny Yoo | Dessert Bar: Pretty Please Bakeshop | Flatware and Glassware: Standard Party Rentals | Photobooth: Snap Fiesta | Rentals: Chair Divas | Vintage Furniture: Seventh Heaven Vintage Event Planning and Design

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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When it comes to baking, I got it from my mama. I can remember many a times when laughs and smiles were induced by a baking session, from morning muffins to apple beignets in the fall and everything in between. Those are the best moments aren’t they? Get your aprons and mitts ready bakerettes, we’ve got a handful of scrumptious recipes to add to your archives.

Scrumptious Recipes for the Ultimate Baker

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Scrumptious Recipes for the Ultimate Baker

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See all recipes right this way!

Seeing as we’ve already witnessed the pretty that is Part I, it’s time we find our seats at the ever-so-stunning ceremony. And for those of you that question if you can pull off a modern affair in Montana, allow me to introduce you to the incomparable Laurie Arons. Complete with ice sculpture votives, cozy cashmere blankets, and the cutest bridal party EVER, this is once celebration that’s sure to have you on #teamwinter. Fall in love with every innovative detail captured by Jose Villa Photography below!

From Laurie Arons Special Events… The location for our styled ceremony was an intimate pier over a small lake on the Ranch. We loved the cool reflection of the sky in the water, creating a wintery mood for the shoot. Weathered wood benches were draped with soft grey cashmere wraps, to keep ‘guests’ warm for the winter ceremony. Sarah Winward created ice candles for a modern approach to the ceremony design, and snowy blooms lined the aisle.

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Want to personally partake in the pretty? Don’t miss out on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in next years Masterclass, get all the dreamy details below!

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2017 Wedding Planner Masterclass by Laurie Arons

Dates: March 20th–24th, 2017
Location: The Santa Lucia Preserve, Carmel California

Click here for more details and to apply!

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Event Designer + Event Planner + Workshop Host: Laurie Arons Special Events | Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Styling: Daniel Tran | Floral Design: Honey of a Thousand Flowers | Wedding Cake: Perfect Endings | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Groom’s Attire:Mr. Porter | Venue: The Ranch At Rock Creek | Beauty: Sherrie Long Makeup Hair & Effects | Brass Pencils: Modern Fuel | Bridal Boutique: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Bridal Gown: J. Mendel | Bridal Gown: Naeem Khan | Candles: Creative Candles | Farewell Dinner Rental Tables:Vintage Whites | Farewell Dinner Rentals Chairs: Montana Party Rentals | Farewell Dinner Table Top:March SF | Floral Assistant: Kelly Lenard | Graphic Design: Amber Moon Design | Models: Wilhelmina Denver | Printing: Czar Press | Welcome Dinner Rentals: The Party Store | Workshop Notebooks + Brass Rulers: Appointed

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Peek the pretty that was Laurie Arons 2015 Masterclass, here!

Part One | Part Two

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For membership information, click here

Laurie Arons Special Events

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Those butterflies you’re feeling? Those aren’t just from the Champagne. It’s your big day — the one you’ve been dreaming about forever. And for an occasion as important as this, there’s no one better to help you walk down the aisle than Harry Winston. From the perfect gifts for all your loved ones to the prettiest finishing touches for your bridal look, the House of Harry Winston is your go-to for fine jewelry that stands the test of time, allowing you to simply enjoy the moment and steal the show.

The Bride's Ultimate Getting Ready Checklist

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The Bride's Ultimate Getting Ready Checklist

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Find the Perfect Gift For Everyone In Your Bridal Party!

Saying “I do” on a picturesque mountaintop is dream-worthy in its own right, but saying “I do” atop a mountain overlooking Lake Tahoe? That’s an entirely new level of pretty. Case in point? These two sweeties, who tied the knot at the Zephyr Lodge in a take-your-breath-away celebration featuring mesmerizing views, crystal blue waters and a gondola or two. See it all in THE VAULT.

From First Pick Planning…. When we met Katie and Grant they let us know they planned to get married in Lake Tahoe, CA. The couple wanted a place where they could surround themselves with family and friends in a place near and dear to both of their hearts. Both Katie and Grant grew up spending time in Lake Tahoe and had fond memories with their families. It seemed like the ideal place for the two families to become one. They decided on a picturesque view at the top of Northstar’s Zephyr Lodge.

Northstar and its magical mountains set the perfect backdrop for their romantic wedding. The ceremony was outside facing out into the mountains and encompassed the love they had for each other, family and friends. During the ceremony they honored their parents longstanding marriages and Grant paid tribute to his grandfather by choosing his wedding ring as his wedding band. 

After the ceremony guests entered the reception inside Zephyr Lodge, which only lends itself to the stunning natural beauty that surrounds it with the floor to ceiling windows along one side of the venue. Art in Bloom brought us wild and free blooms that were placed in small clusters of mismatched vases that Katie’s mother had lovingly collected over the last year. The palette of rich greens and bright blooms complemented the scenery outside.

Guests dined at long family style tables with views of the mountains. As we further got to know Katie and Grant, we learned that family and friends truly mean everything to them. Based on this it was decided that we would serve the dinner “family style” with guests being able to try a little bit from each of the plates as they passed and encouraging guest to chat with one another.  After dinner was served and the traditional dances and speeches commenced.

Guests danced the night away and filled up the couple’s guest book with photos from their photo booth. We had a last minute décor addition of several green shrubs that were placed behind the DJ to separate the space and also made for the perfect backdrop for the photo booth. The couple had received a wedding gift of a personalized shotski that made the best addition to the photo booth greenery! To play off the fact that they got engaged in Ireland the couple served Irish Coffee’s to guests as they danced the night away.

Every aspect of the venue was perfection due to the amazing team at Northstar. During the planning process we quickly learned that Grant had a sweet tooth and dessert would be his main focus. In lieu of a traditional cake the couple opted for an entire dessert table filled with a few of Grant’s favorite’s: mini chocolate mousses, cupcakes, cookies and even doughnut holes. The night was truly one of those beautiful brisk mountain nights and guests enjoyed hot cocoa as they waited for the gondola to take them down the mountain at the end of the evening. Many of the guests joined the couple at the after party at Mikuni’s Sushi restaurant in the village where the rest of the doughnut holes were devoured and the life-sized cut outs of Katie and Grant made their grand appearance!

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To plan your very own dream day perched on an 8000 foot mountaintop, contact the Zephyr Lodge today. Whether you’re planning a small, intimate affair or a larger gathering of 500, your guests will marvel at the stunning Pacific Crest views and drop-dead gorgeous sunsets, no matter the time of year. Just promise to invite us, okay?

Photographer: Candice Benjamin Photography | Videographer: Jordan Claverie | Coordination: First Pick Planning | Florist: Art In Bloom | Makeup: Jen With Kiss And Makeup | Hair: Sam Harris | Lighting: Event Masters Rental | After Party Bar: Mikuni Sushi | Ceremony and Reception: Northstar Zephyr Lodge | DJ/Musician: Brian Hess | Desserts: Treat Box Bakery | Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth | Rentals: Celebrations Party Rentals

To simply state that Laurie Arons plans picture-perfect affairs would be the understatement of the century. For this mastermind? She is an expert in style, grace, and all-around gorgeousness, and her 2016 Masterclass at The Ranch At Rock Creek? Well, it is (and was) nothing short if incredible. From the warm welcome dinner to the fond farewell, this team of talented vendors orchestrated perfection and we’ve got it all captured by Jose Villa waiting for you here. P.S. Learn about the 2017 Masterclass below!

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“In contrast to the moody, masculine Farewell Dinner,

the Welcome Dinner in the Blue Canteen had a lighter feel.”

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From Laurie Arons Special Events… The design inspiration for this year’s Masterclass was a Modern Montana wedding. It’s common in a natural Western setting like The Ranch At Rock Creek to see rustic or vintage inspired events. But I wanted the opportunity to show how a sleek and modern aesthetic could compliment the rugged environment, if the right elements were brought together. To do this, I balanced stark modern components with cozy knits & soft velvet textiles. Masculine colors like matte black, slate and chestnut brown, a nod to the wooden architecture at the Ranch, were contrasted with romantic, spilling flowers by Sarah Winward of Honey of a Thousand Flowers.

I chose the metallic accent of brass for the overall Masterclass design and farewell dinner, because it felt contemporary but is also a metal that is historically seen in a ranch location. The table top by March SF, a beautiful and luxurious home boutique in San Francisco, incorporated brass flatware and smokey amber glassware in a similar tone. The hand-crafted matte black wood chargers and slate stoneware dinner plates anchored the place setting.

The winter wedding design needed to feel cozy, so we lit tall black tapers, brass votives and iron candelabras to warm up the space. We also draped each black chiavari chair with a grey cashmere scarf as well.

Amber Moon Design created a beautiful modern invitation suite and menu card, but brought in Western elements with cow hide pouches and brass tags. Cowhide agendas and brass rulers, pencils and zip drives were used by the students in the class room.

In contrast to the moody, masculine wedding dinner shoot, the welcome dinner in the Blue Canteen had a lighter feel. We featured copper instead of brass because the canteen had an existing copper counter top that was a prominent feature in the room. Copper chairs, lanterns and a copper menu board brought those elements together.

The color tones were soft – ivory, tan, taupe & brown. Neutral toned splatterware and tan fabric panels set the table. Sarah Winward created an installation of pussy willow branches above the table and little wood bundles served as placecards at the table.

The attendees of the 2016 class were a fantastic group of planners, who sparked incredible discussions about our industry. We had a lot of fun getting to know each other while sharing delicious meals, kicking around the ranch in our matching Sorel boots, and laughing at late night karaoke. I’m excited to continue building this community at the 2017 class, at one of my favorite, most beautiful settings in the country.

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2017 Wedding Planner Masterclass by Laurie Arons

Dates: March 20th–24th, 2017
Location: The Santa Lucia Preserve, Carmel California

Click here for more details and to apply!

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Event Designer + Event Planner + Workshop Host: Laurie Arons Special Events | Photography: Jose Villa Photography | Styling: Daniel Tran | Floral Design: Honey of a Thousand Flowers | Wedding Cake: Perfect Endings | Calligraphy: Written Word Calligraphy | Groom’s Attire:Richard James from Mr Porter | Venue: The Ranch At Rock Creek | Beauty: Sherrie Long Makeup Hair & Effects | Brass Pencils: Modern Fuel | Bridal Boutique: Little White Dress Bridal Shop | Bridal Gown: J. Mendel | Bridal Gown: Naeem Khan | Candles: Creative Candles | Farewell Dinner Rental Tables:Vintage Whites | Farewell Dinner Rentals Chairs: Montana Party Rentals | Farewell Dinner Table Top: March SF | Floral Assistant: Kelly Lenard | Graphic Design: Amber Moon Design | Models: Wilhelmina Denver | Printing: Czar Press | Welcome Dinner Rentals: The Party Store | Workshop Notebooks + Brass Rulers: Appointed

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Peek the pretty that was Laurie Arons 2015 Masterclass, here!

Part One | Part Two

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Laurie Arons Special Events

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Written Word Calligraphy

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Summer may be “officially” over, but that doesn’t mean the fun in the sun has to come to end. Nope, around these parts we’re spending our days dreaming of the fabulous Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, a place that knows all there is to know about luxe accommodations. Think breathtaking views, an on-site marina and stellar customer service. In other words? It’s time to pack.your.bags.

Whether you’re looking for a dreamy destination locale for your upcoming nuptials or just want to kick back and relax with your honey, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village has everything you’ll ever want or need. I’m talking a sweet stay in paradise with views of San Carlos Bay, the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico, plus an on-site marina and 400+ miles of navigable waterways perfect for kayaking or boating (they have those, too).  Not to mention that The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village can host up to 200 people in their gorgeous indoor and outdoor event spaces, making for one awesome wedding destination for you AND the ones you love.

To start planning that dream honeymoon, wedding or last-minute vaca to Florida, contact The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village TODAY or request to submit a RFP here!  And don’t forget to ask about their special offer for your next getaway, which includes a 4th night free (applied at checkout), a $100 food and beverage credit per stay and a room upgrade (based on availability). Have sooo much fun, lovelies.

If there was ever a wedding that would have me begging for a vow renewal, it would be this piece of pretty captured by Blaine Siesser. A day complete with the sweetest pups, a decadent cake a la Sweet Heather Anne, one stunning floral arch, and a few bottles of bubbly, it’s enough to have any and every Bride inspired and/or asking for a reception re-do. See it all for yourself in The Vault!

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From Blaine Siesser… Andrea & Brandon celebrated their nuptials at Meadowbrook Mansion. It was a beautiful event designed and styled by Kehoe Designs. Sharing her favorite wedding memory she said: “Walking down the aisle. Seeing my groom looking at me like I was the only person in the world. Seeing our parents beaming, our friends hysterical. We both always felt everyone was always rooting for us, but at that moment we felt it.” Surprisingly, getting ready at her home was one of her favorite parts of the day. She said, “Getting ready in our home was very important to me. It felt so special to be close to all the memories that Brandon and I have shared there; to be with my sister, friends, and of course our dogs. It was the most serene wedding morning I could ever have imagined.” Her favorite photos where of “…. Us on the bridge in front of the mansion. These three photos exude exactly how we both felt about planning a big wedding. Of course we enjoyed some parts of the planning process, but in our case we actually didn’t expect all of the heightened emotions, compromises, and tensions that a big wedding could create. At the end of the day, all that mattered was that we loved each other and that was all that mattered to us. These photographs remind me of that.“

Photography: Blaine Siesser Photography | Event Coordination: Party Assurance | Event Design: Kehoe Designs | Floral Design: Kehoe Designs | Wedding Dress: Elie Saab | Wedding Cake: Sweet Heather Anne | Invitations: Lee's Specialty | Rings: Cartier | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Elle Zeitoune | Makeup: MarioMax Salon | Hair: Michael Maxim | DJ: DJ Matt | Band: Your Generation in Concert | Tuxedo: Sam Michael | Officiant: Temple Israel | Wedding Venue: Meadowbrook Hall | Bride's Veil: Elie Saab | Linens: Luxe Linen | Transporation: Rochester Limousine

Nestled on a sprawling lawn overlooking the bayou, this at-home wedding was one for the books. The 30-person wedding party arrived by boat and guests were treated to handcrafted cocktails and a locally-sourced menu any foodie would love. Justin DeMutiis photographed and a visit to the gallery is an absolute must.

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Custom watercolor invitations were handcrafted by Karli Strohschein. Grant and Alex worked directly with Karli to create a custom crest which included aspects of the couple’s personalities.  The crest reappeared throughout the wedding and was later displayed on the dinner menus.

Upon arrival, golf carts escorted guests to the pool house where they awaited the 30-person wedding party as they arrived by boat. As the wedding party entered the ceremony from the dock, the bride, escorted by her mother and father, and wearing the veil of the Groom’s mother, walked down the hill under a canopy of live oaks.

The ceremony was written by the bride and groom and officiated by Pastor Marty Martin, a lifelong family friend. Both mothers led a prayer at the end of the ceremony before the band played The Beatles “All You Need is Love” as the wedding party exited.

Following the ceremony, the guests continued to visit poolside as signature cocktails were served. A spin-off of the French 75, the Thyme Spent on I-75 cocktail contained Sparkling Wine, Old St. Pete Gin, Ocala Blueberries, Thyme, and Indian River Grapefruit, all locally grown and sourced. A 12-foot cypress plank, cut from Grant’s family farm was prepared with charcuterie, Georgia olives, and fresh bread. Guests were also served raw gulf oysters during the post-ceremony cocktail hour. After the cocktail hour, guests danced their way to the front yard for dinner as they were led by a horn and tambourine procession of “The Saints Go Marching In”.

Both Alex and Grant have a strong passion for food and wine. They were thrilled to work with Chef Chris Infinger from G. Foley’s Restaurant in Panama City. Chef Chris locally sources all of his ingredients and worked with Grant and Alex to create a seasonal menu served family style for their guests. The meal started with Florida Corn and Anson Mills muffins and an heirloom tomato salad. The main course was pan seared gulf caught black grouper, cheese yogurt, whipped Florida gold potatoes, and roasted turnips. Guests sat at farm tables and listened to the bride and groom’s custom playlist which included songs from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and James Taylor.

After dinner, the procession of horns and tambourines led guests to the back patio of the home for an evening full of dancing and live music.

Photography: Justin DeMutiis Photography | Videography: Brandon Kari Productions | Event Planning + Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Floral Design: Rachelle Youd Designs | Invitations: Karli Strohschein | Catering: Chef Christ Infinger | Venue: Groom's Family Home | Bar: Carousel Liquors-Dock Haney | Landscape Design: Jennifer Goodwiller and Leake Landscape | Music: Moon Dance | Rentals + Lighting: H&M

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Karli Strohschein

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